THE GUMFIELD MURDER.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 140, 30 May 1911, Page 1

THE GUMFIELD MURDER.

TRIAL OF TAHI KAKA. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Auckland, May 30. The trial of the Maori Tahi Kaka charged with the murder of the gumdigger John Heeraan, at Puhipuhi, was continued in the Supreme Court this morning. Sergeant Moore produced the confession of the crime signed Ly the accused, and stated that he dm not caution the accused before taking down his confession, as it was made voluntarily and rub ie answer to questions. Counsel for prisoner said hewould address the jury later ora the combination of circumstances which implicated Kaka in the crime, and meanwhile would put him in the witness box to tell his own story so that the jury might determine whether he was the map* derer or not. PRISONER’S STATEMENT. Kaka gave evidence in fairly good English. He stated that he was 16 or 17 years of age. Fie? described how he accompanied Freeman in pursuit of gum. Hee noticed something bulging in Freeman's hip pocket. Freeman said he had £2O. Prisoner added, ‘T thought he was joking, and I saui',give me the money, or I’ll kill you.” Continuing, accused said that Freeman had a spear in his hand and a spade at his side-. “Come on, kill me,” said Freeman, who dropped the spade and i ising the spear with both hands threw it at the prisoner and then thr<-w the spade, striking prisoner in the shoulder. Freeman made to clutch prisoner bj' both hands. Prismier ducked" and Freeman fell ->n up of him, both going to the ground. Freeman was trying to get an ;>><?.- out of his bag when prisoner h*v him three blows over the head with the stick. Then prisoner ran a -a ay, and as Freeman did not i ihw, prisoner returned. ’ Freeman was not quite dead. Prisoner was very sorrv for him, and cried i.-ivinse he thought he was dead. Pmaner thought he would be hung for killing. a man, and remembering Freeman had said he had mon ?y. prisoner took the monej- out Us hip pocket.